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The respondent to this survey is Helen Jane who is from a White British background.
| What qualifications did you hold prior to starting university? | 10 GCSE's: 1 A*, 6 A's (inc. Maths, French & English) and 3 B's
4 A Levels: Chemistry B
Physics B
Italian B
General Studies B |
| What was the name of your course? | Chemistry with Study in Europe |
| While at university have you worked part-time? | Yes |
| While at university have you performed any voluntary work? | Yes |
| While at university have you undertake any work experience? | No |
| Please give details of your experience? | As an undergraduate I worked a couple of times as a Student Ambassador on the university's Early Outreach Programme for local school children. During my Masters I worked part-time in the Modern Languages Teaching Centre as a receptionist/librarian. I volunteered as a member of Student Reception: giving prospective students tours of the Students Union and speaking at conferences on higher education in local colleges. |
| How useful did you find this work experience when it came to find a job after graduating? | I think that one of the key skills I gained and improved in all these roles was teamwork and this is something most employers request. I also improved my communication competence with children and with students from other cultures. |
| What is your status? | In full or part time employment |
| What is your job title? | Sales & Marketing Assistant |
| What responsibilities do you hold? | Maintaining sales relationships with a number of Italian customers. Managing production of marketing materials and the company’s attendence at industry exhibitions.
Following up new sales leads in Europe and the rest of the world. I project managed the redesign of the company website and am now responsible for maintaining it.
Covering for the Sales Administrator in her absence by processing sales orders and arranging domestic and export despatch of those orders. |
| What do you enjoy the most about this job? | I enjoy being able to use my Chemistry background with my language and cultural skills.
I like having responsibility for marketing projects and especially enjoy the satisfaction of successful completion. |
| What do you enjoy the least? | As one of the lowest level staff in the company I am often delegated the more tedious work that my colleagues do not have time to do. |
| What was involved in the recruitment process for this job? | Sending CV then attending a first and second interview. |
| Do you feel you have a career plan? | No |
| When did you start thinking about what you wanted to do after graduation? Thinking back did you leave enough time for this? | During my final year of Chemistry I did not apply for very many jobs so only started looking properly in the summer following my last exams. This meant I missed most of the graduate recruitment type positions. Looking back it may have been better to devote time at the beginning of my final year to apply for jobs. However I am glad that I hadn't already found a job as I changed direction slightly and decided to do further study and went back to do an MA in Intercultural Communication at Sheffield. |
| Did you experience any difficulties when it came to finding work after graduation? If yes, please describe some of the problems you faced? | Following my Chemistry degree I was confused about what I wanted to do so was applying for jobs I either wanted but didn't really have experience for or analytical chemistry jobs, which I didn't want to do. |
| What do you wish you had known before you started applying for jobs? | That confidence and a strong personality can often count more than answering standard questions with standard answers and having the right qualifications and experience. |
| What advice would you give to someone applying for jobs now? | Don't just limit yourself to graduate recruitment schemes, look at smaller, local companies they can have great opportunities. |
| Would you have done anything differently while at university to prepare for your career? Please give details. | I only did one graduate assessment centre interview day at Unilever, but I realised that I ought to have attended a careers service workshop beforehand as I was not very confident. |
| How do you feel your degree has prepared you for today's labour market? | Chemistry prepared me in general for the labour market with a high level of numeracy and analytical skills and also to work in the chemical industry in various roles. I believe that my Italian language skills are highly valued in the UK and are definitely vital in my present job. My Masters has given me extra knowledge and competence for working in the global workplace, by increasing my awareness of cultural differences and allowing me to work more effectively in multicultural teams. |
| What impact did your course have on your career aspirations? | Undecided still |
| Did you make use of the careers service at university? | Yes |
| If yes, please describe how you used the careers service. | I used it once before going to the Unilever interview to get advice on what to expect and how to prepare. I used the printed sheets with info on CV's, interviews etc. |
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